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Plasticity of symbiotroph-saprotroph lifestyles of Piloderma croceum associated with Quercus robur L.

Summary

A fungus called Piloderma croceum can switch between two lifestyles: breaking down dead wood to get nutrients, and forming beneficial partnerships with living oak tree roots. This research shows that dead wood colonized by this fungus acts like a ‘bank’ of fungal spores that can later establish symbiotic relationships with new trees. This process helps forests thrive by improving how trees obtain nutrients from soil. Understanding this dual lifestyle reveals how deadwood plays an important role in forest health beyond just decomposition.

Background

Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi are commonly found in association with tree roots, but they have also been detected in deadwood and plant debris. However, their potential dual roles as symbiotrophic and saprotrophic organisms remain debated in mycological research.

Objective

To investigate the plasticity of symbiotrophic-saprotrophic lifestyles in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Piloderma croceum associated with Quercus robur L., and to determine whether deadwood colonized by this fungus can serve as a propagule bank for mycorrhizal symbiosis formation.

Results

P. croceum efficiently colonized oak deadwood (100% in bark, 84.6% in complete wood) and produced hydrolytic enzymes including β-glucosidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, and acid phosphatase. Carbon isotope analysis demonstrated fungal assimilation of wood carbon, and microscopic observation confirmed formation of Hartig nets when colonized deadwood was introduced to oak roots, indicating true ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate plasticity between sapotrophic and symbiotrophic lifestyles in P. croceum, establishing deadwood as an underestimated ectomycorrhizal fungal propagule bank that indirectly influences forest ecosystem productivity by contributing to mycorrhizal fungal recruitment and enhancing plant nutrient acquisition.
  • Published in:Communications Biology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1038/s42003-025-08762-w, PMID: 40957907
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